Maternal health: A new study challenges benefits of Vitamin A for women and babies

Source: The New York Times

A new study conducted by the Global Health Institute of University College London appears to contradict an earlier study in Nepal that suggested that child-bearing women who took Vitamin A supplements lowered their risk of childbirth complications and possible death. The doctors used a relatively large sample size (208,000) in Ghana to complete their study and found that those who received Vitamin A supplements were no less likely to die or be hospitalized for childbirth complications than those taking the placebo.

The conclusion of the study was that the consumption of Vitamin A supplements did not make a statistically significant difference in women's health and that more effort should be made into finding ways to get women actual food.